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Health & Fitness

What is Adaptable Golf Instruction?

Golf can be therapeutic for for those with disabilities. Don't let limitations prevent you from enjoying such a great game.

Many of you have stopped and asked me what an Adaptable or Accessible Golf Instructor is or does. Well, today is your lucky day, because I am going to shed some light on not only what it is; but exactly why I decided to become one and what I plan to do with it.

After 20 years of being in the steel industry and not feeling like I had a direct impact on the world, I decided to get my Master Golf Teaching Certificate through the USGTF. I have always been inspired with athletes that, despite their limitations, were successful in various sports or challenges they faced in life. So when I learned about an opportunity to earn a certification in adaptive golf I immediately booked a flight and down to Orlando I went.

The two day course was facilitated by staff from Penn State, the Salute Military Golf Academy, and members from the National Alliance for Accessible Golf. Day one introduced us to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the many types of disabilities that exist, different types of prosthetics, and what "inclusive" really means. I met some great people and gained a ton of knowledge. Day two was even better when we got out on the range and got to experience first-hand the challenges individuals with disabilities face when playing golf. We were also given the opportunity to teach and learn exactly how we need to adapt our instruction based on the students limitations.

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So now that you know what it is I can tell you what I want to do with it. Down in Florida I saw first-hand the impact golf had on one of the participants in particular, and there have been countless other stories about our wounded warriors and how golf has saved their lives. I was lucky to meet Staff Sergeant Charles Eggleston, a true wounded warrior, a four time recipient of the purple heart, and a candidate for the Congressional Medal of Honor. From that point on, I knew I wanted to give back to our veterans who gave for us, and that I wanted to help those with disabilities experience the joy of playing golf. I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.

The Simple World of Golf is in its early stages, but we are already having an impact. Partnering with The Volunteers of America Michigan to introduce golf to our Veterans, we will hold our first hands-on clinic on March 23, 2012, at the new housing facility in downtown Detroit. In the near future we also hope to begin a lasting relationship with the Paralyzed Veterans of America. The goal, to introduce any person with disabilities to the game of golf. We are diligently reaching out to many groups with this message - despite your limitations you can play golf, and we are here to help you in any way we can.

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